Trees in Slavic Mythology

The lime tree (Tilia) is sacred in Slavic mythology, thought to protect against lightning strikes and bad luck.

In Eastern Slavic mythology, there is a “world tree” or “tree of life,” often imagined as a fern shaped like the Cyrillic letter Ж (Zhe), linked to the word "zhizn" (life). It bears the fruit of the mythical fern flower, and the one who finds it is granted knowledge of hidden treasures, clairvoyance, and power over unclean spirits. According to legend, the fern blooms only briefly on the night before Ivan Kupala, and anyone who seeks it is tormented and frightened by evil spirits, sometimes losing reason, speech, or memory.